Ceratosaurs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CeratosaursTemporal range: Jurassic–Cretaceous
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Ceratosauria
Marsh, 1884
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Ceratosaurs were a special group of theropod dinosaurs. Theropods were mostly meat-eating dinosaurs that walked on two legs. Scientists define Ceratosaurs as all theropods that are more closely related to Ceratosaurus than they are to modern birds.
This group of dinosaurs lived from the Jurassic period all the way to the end of the Cretaceous period. Many Ceratosaurs, like Ceratosaurus, Elaphrosaurus, and Abelisaurus, have been found mainly in the southern parts of the world.
Contents
What are Ceratosaurs?
Ceratosaurs were a diverse group of dinosaurs. They had unique features that set them apart. For example, some Ceratosaurs had horns or crests on their heads. Their skeletons also show special traits, especially in their front limbs.
The Oldest Ceratosaur
The earliest known Ceratosaur is a dinosaur called Eoabelisaurus. It lived during the Middle Jurassic period. Its fossils were discovered in Patagonia, which is in South America. Eoabelisaurus lived more than 40 million years before other well-known Ceratosaurs.
Finding an almost complete skeleton of Eoabelisaurus was very important. It helped scientists understand how the unique front limbs of later Ceratosaurs, like the abelisaurids, first started to evolve.
Changing Ideas About Ceratosaurs
When Ceratosaurs were first studied, scientists thought the group included some older dinosaurs. These were Coelophysis and Dilophosaurus. They lived much earlier, from the Upper Triassic to the Lower Jurassic periods. If they were included, it would mean Ceratosaurs appeared very early in dinosaur history.
However, newer studies have changed this idea. Scientists now believe that Coelophysis and Dilophosaurus are not closely related to other Ceratosaurs. Because of this, they are no longer considered part of the Ceratosaur group. This helps scientists better understand the true family tree of these amazing dinosaurs.
Gallery of Ceratosaurs
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Skeletal reconstruction of Masiakasaurus, another Ceratosaur.
See also
In Spanish: Ceratosauria para niños
